Missile structures



April 11, 1961 E, PL TZER MISSILE STRUCTURES Filed Sept. 30, 1959 7 in large quantity.

ently contemplated for carrying out the invention:.

" Fig.1} is an'exploded view of a missile. constructedpur half ofa quiek eoupling' means, whereas the other thread Uni ed a s Fa a j MISSILE STRUCTURES Erich llanitzer, Nurtingeu, Wurttemberg, Germany, as

signor to Bolkow-Entwicklungen Kommanditgesellschaft, lttobrunn, near Munich, Germany Filed Sept. 30, 1959, set; No. 843,445 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 10, 195i} 19 Claims. (Cl; 244-14) The present invention relates, in general, to missiles and, in particular, to means for coupling the missile parts or components thereof together.

I the body or fuselage. This is necessary in many cases to facilitate the transportation of the missile, to achieve an improved coupling of the missile parts, and also forreasons of safety. The assembly ofthe missile before use must be very simple, safe and'without any loss of time. 7 1 In general, both the weight and the center'of gravity of the missile head are fixed. However, the body for fuselage, which contains the propulsion mechanism and mounts the steering equipment, must be correctly adjusted upon assembly of the missile components or parts. "The required adjustment may be effected with rapid union means, such as a screw adjustment. However,'due to the difierent requirements and the difierent constructionneeded'for each of the foregoing functions, it is not possible to fulfill both functions with one andthesame screw connection. 1 a p f It is an object of the present invention to provide means facilitating the combination of rapid coupling andjadjusting functions in'one structural part. i

It is another object. of the presentinvention tofprovidelmeans fulfilling the requirements'of simple-and fast is made, is driven into a hole which is bored for this purpose. 1

It is preferable to fabricate the coupling member from epoxide resin. The cooperating member is made of a lightweight metal, preferably an electrum injection diecast alloy. .Theresiliency of the plastic'provides the advantage that, upon a firm tightening of the parts, an elastic deformation occurs in the thread turns, so that an inadvertent disengagementof the parts is reliably prevented. In addition, the part cooperating with the adjusting thread ismade of a light metal. Due to the good glide or slide effect between metal and plastic, there is still sufiicient mobility even with extremely little play between the parts, and even under relatively slight. compression. In addition, the'two materials advantageously are well suited for injection molding, in the case of the plastic, and die-casting in the case of the metal, so that low cost mass production, at extremely small tolerances'in the workpiece, is rendered possible. I

- Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing in detail,

i there is shown a dirigible type missile 2t), pursuant to the ment in asir'nple and highly efficacious manner utilizing only a single structural part .which iseasy to manufac ture The above and other objects of the invention will becomefurther' apparent from the following detailed description, reference being 'made to the accompanying drawing, showing preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawing which illustratesthe best modes pressuant to the present-invention;

' :Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a missile, similar-to Fig.

1, drawn toan enlarge'd'scale; and a i Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2and illustrates a modi fied form of the invention; I

T .Brie'fly described, pursuant to the present' invention,

there is provided a coupling member fora'missile, which? memberfhas two different threads 'One thread is one:

is a fine thread for center-of gravity adjustment 'lfhe The adjustingghread isat the rear of the coupling r'nemlbw;,recis1on. It sim""l" osses'ses a mount which in H... ,PYP

V to form an acme or buttress thread.

;quick-couplingithreadis preferably at the front of the" coupling member ffor'lconnection with tlie pay load head tightened condition ofthequiclgcoupling thread insures a. 1

I definiteposition ofthe twoparts in relation to eachotherj Frictional locking of the parts prevents inadyelrtent-autofj l matic release or disengagement of this connection:

present invention, The missile comprises a body member or fuselage 1 which iscoupled to a pay load head 3 by a a coupling member 2. a The head 3 is provided with a raised six-turn thread l which is threaded into the helical ter rotation, of either the coupling member 2 or the head 3,. the thread is fully tightened so that the coupling'head collar Zlis in engagement with the shoulder12 of head 3.

The head 2 is fabricated from a light metal. As'the syn;

thetic resinthread '6 clamps firmly against the light metal thread 4, a'. definite ,indisplaceable position between cou pling the member andthe pay load head is establisheds o' that theyare fixed in relative position. The raised thread 4 is formed on a conical part 5 which projects forwardly of the shoulder 12. ,The part5 facilitates the insertion of the outer-raised thread 4 intothe inner grooved thread 6 The bore .122 .of coupling member is complementary to projection 5 but is in cylindrical form and of a slightly larger diameter. of the two threaded parts i's prevented. 7 I I c Referring'now. to Figure 3, therelis shown a modi In this way, a relative cantingof one fication of the present invention. The couplinginember 13 and the head 14' are provided with-socket threads. 15

and 16, respectively. Thread 15 is grooved at: the inner surface of. collar 13 and threads 16 are raised on the projection 23 of the head. The telescoping "or threads 1516 and relative rotation of the parts by'a small" angle results in a tight, self-lockingjoint or connection.

In all'other respects the coupling 'memberf13 and head 14 are similarto coupling" member .2 and head},

respectively. 1 v r e i It will be noted that. inboth embodiments, a gro'ss thread connection is utilizedto connect the'h'ead. to the, l coupling member. 1'1 I The coupling betweencoupling'me nber-2,or member 13, and the fuselage is:effected by a very' muchf finer screwthread connection than that between-the coupling member 2 or 13 and head 3 1114, respectively. More specifically,-a one-turnscrew thread"connection is effected by thefsmall pitchth'r'ead] on member 2,011 13. which engages in a complementary small pitch thread 8 at the inner surface of the fuselage.

The screw connection 78 can be fixed in eve adjusted position thereof by first providing a bore in each of the coupling members and fuselage when they are correctly adjusted for center-of-gravity and then forcing a .bolt 9 into the aligned bores 10 to lock the parts together. The screw threads 7 and 8 have practically no play so that a definite position is assured in each position of adjustment.

In assembling the missile 20, the coupling member 2 or .13 is first threaded onto the head 3 or 14 and manually tightened. The secured together head and coupling member are then threadedly engaged with the fuselage, by threading threads 7 and 8, until the previously determined and established center-of-gravity position is exactly correct. In this position, fuselage and connecting member are bored, as at 10, and the bolt 9 is inserted into the bores. The rapid coupling between the head and coupling member can then be disengaged so that the head 3 can be separately transported.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that the present invention provides both for a simple and rapid assembly and disassembly, as well-as a center-of-gravity adjustment using only one structural part which is relatively simple to manufacture.

The use of the selected materials results in a firm v if 'a,979,2e5

lock said small fine thread connection in gravity adjusted position.

8. A missile as set forth in claim 7, said locking means comprising a locking bolt engaged in said coupling and body'members through the fine thread connection thereof.

9. A missile. as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling member is made of plastic and the other members are made of metal.

10. A missile as set forth in claim 9, wherein the coupling member is made of epoxide resin.

11. A missile. as set forth in claim 9, wherein the other members are made of a light metal.

12. A missile as set forth in claim 11, wherein the other members are made of an electrum alloy.

13. A missile, comprising in combination: a head member, a body member, a combined coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting member intermediate said head fit of the rapid connection means which is secured by a a functional locking action. The use of plastic for the fit of the adjusting thread provides the advantage that there is an absence of play so that it is possible to provide a definite position of the two connecting parts without an excessively high torque to tighten the screw connection. Further, by combining the functions of a rapid connecting means with a fine adjusting means in one structural part, the two different threads are each located at the point most favorable for achieving maximum effect. The pay load head comprises the main weight of the missile so that the displacement of this weight in relation to the balance of the missile is most effective for trimming the missile. Small displacements of the main weight result in large changes in load distribution. This is particularly true of short-range missiles where the pay load is a substantial part of the total weight.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be securedby Letters Patent is:

1. In a missile having a head member and a body member, a coupling member for coupling said head'member to said body member, said coupling member having said body members,'first quick-coupling means on one end of said combined coupling'and center-of-gravity adjusting member, second quick-coupling means on one of said head and body members, said first and second quickcoupling means being complementary for effecting quick coupling engagement thereof, first center-of-gravity adjusting means at the opposite end of said combined coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting member, and second center-of-gravity adjusting means on the other of said head and body members, said first and second center-ot-gravity adjusting means being complementary and being adapted for adjustable coupling engagement with each other.

14. A missile as in claim 13, wherein one of said first and second quick coupling means comprises raised portions extending along a helical path, while the other of said first and second quick coupling means comprises grooves complementary to said raised portions.

15; A missile as in claim 13, wherein said combined coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting member has an exterior surface which forms part of the exterior surface of the missilein assembled condition.

16. A missile, comprising in combination: ahead member, a body member, a combined coupling and center of-graVity adjusting member intermediate said .head and body members, first quick coupling means on one end of said combined coupling and center-of-gravityadjusting member, second quick coupling means on said head member, said first and second quick coupling means being complementary for effecting quick coupling center-of-gravity adjusting means in the form of an adjustable fine thread connection of small lead with said body member and a gross thread connection of large lead with said head member.

member having an exterior surface which forms part of the exterior surface of the missile. in assembled condition. 3. A missile as set forth in claim. 1, said gross thread connection comprising raised helical threads of large pitch provided on the head member and grooves complementary to .said threads in said coupling] member.

4. A missile as set forth-inclaim 1,.said gross thread connection comprising raised interrupted socket threads onthe headmcmber, and complementarygrooves defined in said coupling member. 7

5. A missile asset forth in claim 1, said gross thread connection comprising arapid coupling formed by acme thread means. j

' 6.1 A missile as set forthin claim 1, said fine thread connection being free of play.

7.. A missile asset forth in claim .1, and tneans to engagement thereof, first center-of-gravity adjusting means at the opposite end of said combined coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting member, and second center-of-gravity adjusting means on said body member, said first and second center-of-gravity adjusting means being complementary and being adapted for adjustable coupling engagement with each other.

. '17.-A missile as in claim 16, wherein said locking means comprises pin means passing through said complementary fine multiple thread means. V g i 18. A missile, comprising in combinationi a head member, a body member, a combined coupling and center-ofgravity adjusting member intermediate said head and body members, complementary thread means having I a large lead on one end-of said combined coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting member and said head member for effecting quick coupling engagcmentbetween said combined, coupling and center-of-gravity adjusting for effecting adjustable, coupling between said body portion and said combined coupling and centerrof gravity adjusting member.

aeveQeaB and center of gravity adjusting member and said body member, for eifecting adjustable coupling connection and center-of-gravity adjustment therebetween, and locking means for locking said complementary fine multiple thread means into position after the center-of-gravity adjustment has taken place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fletcher Apr. 15, 1919 Claypool Nov. 16, 1948 Meister Dec. 29, 1959 Korn Apr. 12, 1960 

